Flower Prowess

Boenga founder and floral designer HARIJANTO SETIAWAN unveils Haribana, a tome named after his patented floristry style that presents an architectural take on Japanese ikebana. Ahead of his book launch at the Takashimaya X Haribana Floral Extravagance show this month, he talks to us about the inspiration behind his creations, his passion for floristry and the event highlights.

- NAFEESA SAINI

Minutes before Harijanto Setiawan's photoshoot, we watch him assemble a stunning floral arrangement made up of towering branches, tropical flowers and beautiful greens. He is a master at work, who constructs quietly and rapidly.

Known for his flamboyant arrangements that decorate luxury events and society weddings, Setiawan made headlines when he launched his signature Haribana style in 2020. The catchy portmanteau is his modern spin on ikebana, the Japanese art of floral arrangement, but with more architectural and complex elements.

The founder of Boenga, a Singapore-based floral studio, has an impressive laundry list of local and global accolades. These include gold medals at the Sanya Flower Show in China and Floria Putrajaya Malaysia, a silver medal at International Floral Art Belgium and the International Designer of the Year award by Fusion Flowers UK. To date, Setiawan remains the only floral designer to be awarded the prestigious President's Designer of the Year in 2013.

In a Prestige interview in 2021, the Indonesian-born former architect said that he had fought for the title. He had been a finalist for three years prior but was told that his work was regarded as art and not design. He finally successfully argued that more recognition was needed for floral design and local art. This same tenacity is what motivated him to create Haribana in the throes of the pandemic, and what inspired his new book devoted to this style.

Setiawan's upcoming collaboration with Takashimaya Singapore, which runs from Mar 8 to 12, is a celebration of the department store's 30th anniversary this year. The Floral Extravagance event features his unique aesthetic, the book launch and a slew of exciting highlights. He tells us more in the following interview.

Tell us about your earliest memory of working with flowers.